I received my first installment of the Annie's Creative Quilt Kit-of-the-Month club project, which is a casserole carrier. The instructions are illustrated in color, to coincide with the fat quarters fabrics used in the project. It's really neat! However, my bobbin thread tension is all "off", I don't know how it got this way, I don't even recall what I sewed last or when. I get very "nervous" when I go to fix the bobbin tension, but not when I fix the top tension. Odd, huh? I'm pretty much deciding to:
1- organize my sewing room first,
2- to press the fat quarters & cut the project out,
3- to drop my sewing machine off at the sewing machine store, for a "tune-up", to do it right,
4- then, when the sewing machine's back home, to sew my project then.
I also need to decide, whether I want to quilt it by hand or quilt it by machine, use what stitches or pattern of quilting, and it's so hard to decide. There are so many unique ideas in books, leaflets, and on-line. One good thing, too, is how this particular project is on-line, at their site, where I can sign in, to phone or email the support team, for this particular project. When I get my machine back, I think I'll phone them, to "talk", so I have more confidence in my ability, because I've never quilted before. It's so nice they're "there" for their clients.
Nancy , I know what it's like to have a sore thumb, too. I think it's a common thing, in people who crochet, knit, etc... I read on-line, some tips about it, like:
1- keep your tension looser and relax to enjoy the project,
2- being stressed or working too hard to be perfect, on a project, makes our tension tighter, which can cause a sore thumb or cramped hand,
3- to try and use different spots on the thumb, if you can, so no one spot gets over-worked, over another spot on the thumb,
4- to knit or crochet for about 15 minutes, then stop and go do something else for 15 minutes - 30 minutes, to give the thumb a rest.
I enjoyed reading their ideas, they helped me out so much. I was trying to "be perfect" and would tense up my grip too tight, which caused the one single spot on my thumb to hurt and be achy and bruised-feeling. I've changed, relax, and have "fun" with my crochet now, and take breaks, to go do housework, laundry, to post here, check emails or do other things, on and off, until I eventually finish a project. I'm not putting deadlines or pressure on myself anymore, because I want to enjoy crochet, since I love it. I don't want it to become too serious and to cause my thumb discomfort. I noticed, once I accepted the fact my projects could be fun, I lightened up my grip, and the sore thumb problem was rectified. It's been so nice, too.
I hope your thumb gets back to normal, soon, Nancy.